Manchester PC Katie Murray has been jailed for using a police database "like Google" to find information about the hunt for cop killer Dale Cregan, so she could gossip with friends about the details on WhatsApp.

The 30-year-old wiped tears from her face as she was handed a two years and nine months sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

She was found guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office by using the police database like her personal search engine to obtain sensitive information on the quadruple murderer.

Cregan went on a killing spree in June 2013, murdering gang rivals David Short, 42, and Short's son Mark, 23, as well as policewomen Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.

Murray sent text messages and used the messaging service WhatsApp to then pass on information about the case to older sister Lindsey.

During her sentencing Murray, who had been with Greater Manchester Police since 2004, was told she had disgraced her profession.

During her trial it emerged she exchanged WhatsApp messages about Cregan with her older sister Lindsay.

In one of these postings Lindsey said: "Oh my God, I can't believe this s***, you better come here after work and fill me in."

Katie replied: "I don't really know anything. He he".

Lindsey was found guilty of the same charge and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

It was revealed during the trial that Murray had also tipped off former Cregan associate Jason Lloyd, with whom she used to be involved in a relationship, about the hunt for the killer.

Lloyd was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the conspiracy as well as possession of a firearm as well as growing a huge £100,000 cannabis farm.